July, 2021 archive
Atypicality 0
At Above the Law, Mark Hermann suggests that Donald Trump’s class action lawsuit against the “social” media sites which have banned and otherwise restricted him may not pass the test to be a class action.
(snip)
First, I bet it’s terribly hard to prove that Trump’s claims are “typical” of other members of the putative class. Facebook and Twitter probably throw people off their platforms for a multitude of different reasons, and those reasons almost surely vary from person to person. Trump was suspended, I assume, because he fomented insurrection (or some such thing).
A Woke-Up Call 0
Rich white folks want their money back from a Catholic school because it exercised what was once known as “Christian charity.” (The plaintiffs say that they want only a return to traditional Catholic values, which, I guess in their view, do not include awareness of injustice, hate, and bigotry.)
Here’s a bit of the news story; follow the link for the rest (emphasis added).
Then, as she marked up the 45-page filing by philanthropists Anthony and Barbara Scarpo against Academy of the Holy Names in Tampa, she decided someone needed to respond.
The suit, filed June 26, alleged that her old school had “become woke” by focusing too much on diversity and equity, and had strayed from Catholic teaching. The Scarpos demanded refunds of donations and tuition. They said the academy should stop billing itself as a Catholic institution.
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.
“The Happiest Place on Earth” 0
No, argues Leonard Pitts, Jr., it’s no place Disney. Here’s the subhead:
If ignorance really were bliss, Tennessee would be the happiest place on Earth.
Follow the link for his reasoning.
QOTD 0
Wendell Berry:
It is wrong to condemn people for doing a thing and then offer no alternative but failure.
(Missing attribution attributed.)
Vaccine Nation 0
Dick Polman runs the numbers.
Dis Coarse Discourse 0
New Jersey woman exercises her freedom of screech.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
It’s eerie, is it not, how they never seem to know that the gun is loaded.
Space Invaders 0
David Zurawik is not impressed by rich guys getting high or by the media coverage thereof. He seems to think that it is conspicuous consumption write large. A snippet:
But much of the coverage since has absolutely worn me out with its treatment of Branson as a heroic figure and his joy ride some 50 miles above earth as if it was a monumental moment in human exploration and consciousness.
Follow the link for the rest.
Limitations of Statues (Updated) 0
At the Idaho State Journal, Billie Johnson muses on the recent removal of statues, some Confederate, some not. She concludes
Follow the link to see how she reached that conclusion.
Addendum:
The page at the link appears to have been removed without explanation. Which is a damned shame, as it was an excellent article.
One Thing Is Not Like the Other Thing 0
I recently watched an episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine in which Odo, played by Rene Auberjonois, mentioned Philip Marlowe and Mike Hammer in the same sentence.
I found this deeply offensive.
Raymond Chandler, creator of Philip Marlowe, was a writer.
Mickey Spillane, creator of Mike Hammer, was a hack.
I read a Mike Hammer novel once. Nothing made any sense, then Mike got drunk and knew whodunnit. I’ve read all of the Philip Marlowe novels, and they all made sense.
On the other hand, the Mike Hammer TV shows starring Stacy Keach (who has his own problems) are quite well done, much better than the books.
Stacy Keach is a jerk and a predator, but the television series (there were two of them; the earlier one was the better of the two) were quite well done.
And, yes, I think we can appreciate the work while disdaining the worker.
Aside:
I did not watch DS9 when it was new; there were too many kids in my house for me to be spending lots of time staring at a box.
DS9 is an excellent show; you can watch it on Netflix, and likely on other services.
